Machines for securing a wire or like tie or strap around a coil or bundle



1965 D. s. FAULKNER 3,

MACHINES FOR SECURING A WIRE OR LIKE TIE OR STRAP AROUND A COIL ORBUNDLE Filed July 23, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR: DOUGLAS S.FAULKNER ATTORNEYS Feb. 2, 1965 D. s FAULKNER 3,168,032

MACHINES FOR SECURING A WIRE OR LIKE TIE OR STRAP AROUND A COIL ORBUNDLE Filed July 23, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR: DOUGLAS 5.FAULKNER BY WWW ATTORNEYS Feb. 2, 1965 D. s. FAULKNER 3,168,032

MACHINES FOR SECURING A WIRE OR LIKE TIE QR STRAP AROUND A COIL ORBUNDLE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 23, 1962 DOUGLAS STEWART FAULKNERFeb. 2, 1965 D s. FAULKNER 3,168,032

MACHINES FOR SECURING A WIRE OR LIKE TIE OR 4 STRAP AROUND A COIL 0RBUNDLE I Filed July 23, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR: DOUGLAS 8.FAULKNER Maud ATTORNEYS 2, 1965 D. s. FAULKNER 3,168,032

MACHINES FOR SECURING A WIRE OR LIKE TIE OR STRAP AROUND A COIL ORBUNDLE Filed July 23, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 llllllfllllllHllllllllllNVENTOR DOUGLAS S. FAULKNER BY H Maud

ATTORNEYS Feb. 2, 1965 D. s. FAULKNER 3,168,032

MACHINES FOR SECURING A WIRE OR LIKE TIE OR STRAP AROUND A COIL 0RBUNDLE Filed July 23, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR; DOUGLAS 5.FAULKNEP Jwuul and w ATT ORNEYS United States Patent 3,168,032 MACHINESFOR SEQURING A WIRE 0R LEKE TIE OR STRAP AROUND A (IOIL OR BUNDLEDouglas Stewart Fauihner, Lower Waiters, Warrington,

England, assignor to Rylands Brothers Limited, Warrington, England, acompany of Great Britain Filed July 23, 1962., Ser. No. 211,689 Ciaiinspriority, application Great Britain, Italy 29, I963, 27,669/61 Qiaims.(Cl. filth-12) This invention is for improvements in or relating tomachines for securing a wire or other tie around an article.

One particular application of the invention, which is mentioned only byway of example, is to a machine for putting and securing a wire or liketie around a coil (e.g. a coil of wire) or bundle so as to secure theconvolutions of the coil or the items making up the bundle together.Another typical application of the invention is to a machine forsecuring a tie, strap or binder around a box, packing case or similararticle.

Coils of material such as wire or rod usually have their convolutionsbound together by means of wire ties so as to form a compact coil orbundle suitable for transport and convenient for handling. Heretoforeeach tie or hinder has generally consisted of at least two turns aroundthe convolutions of the coil, the free ends of the tie or binder thenbeing secured together by twisting one end around the other. This ishereinafter referred to as a single twist.

One object of the invention is to provide a machine which is capable ofproducing an eifective tie consisting of only one convolution of wireinstead of two as above referred to. This results in a considerableeconomy in material particularly when it is borne in mind that a coil ofwire or the like usually requires at least three to four ties spacedcircumferentially around it. A further object of the invention is toprovide a machine in which the ends of the wire ties are securedtogether by a double twist as distinct from the single twist adoptedheretofore.

According to the present invention there is provided a machine forsecuring a tie around an article comprising means adapted to embrace thearticle and having a groove, guideway or the like to receive or carry atie which, when in or on the groove or the like will also embrace thearticle, the groove, guideway or the like being capable of releasing thetie when it is drawn therefrom, and means for drawing the tie out of oroif the groove or the like and tightly around the article.

According to a further feature of the present invention there isprovided a machine for securing a tie around an article comprising amember or members adapted to embrace the article and having a laterallyopen or openable groove, guideway or the like, means for feeding orprojecting a wire or like tie along or around said groove, guideway orthe like and means for applying a pull to said tie so as to draw it outof or off said groove, guideway or the like and tightly around the boxor other article.

According to a still further feature of the resent invention there isprovided a machine for securing a tie or hinder around an articlecomprising a pair of openable arms adapted to embrace the article, aguideway, groove or the like for a length of tie or binder materialextending around said arms, said guideway, groove or the like beingopen, at least in part, at one side of the arms so that the wire canleave the arms laterally thereof, resilient or releasable means coveringor partly covering said guideway, groove or the like to retain the tiematerial therein, or thereon, means for feeding the tie material fromstock through or onto said guideway, groove or the like so that aisaasrFatented Feio. 2, HESS it will circumscribe the article, means forpulling on the tie in the reverse direction, vise means for holding afree end of the tie after it has circumscribed the article, means forsevering the circumscribing loop from the tie stock and means fortwisting the ends of the loop together after it has been pulled out ofor off the guideway, groove or the like and drawn tightly around thearticle by said reverse pulling on the tie.

It will be appreciated that an important feature of the invention, asjust set forth, is the provision in or on the arms of a guideway, grooveor the like for the tie wire or other tie material. This guirleway orthe like causes the tie wire to form a loop which circumscribes thearticle to be tied after which the free end of the tie is held in avise. The tie is then pulled in the reverse direction (i.e. back in thedirection from which it was fed, so that it is forced laterally out ofor off the groove, guideway or the like against the restraint of theresilient or other means holding it therein or thereon, and is drawntightly around the coil of wire or other article to be tied. When thishas been done the tie is severed from the coil or stock of tie wire orother tie material and the two free ends of the tie, held in a twistingdevice, are twisted so as to secure them firmly together.

In preferred embodiments of the invention the twisting device isconstructed so that the two ends are secured together by a double twist.In other words, each of said ends is twisted around the other instead ofmerely one end being twisted around the other as in a single twist.

The construction of a machine according to the present invention may besuch that the twisted ends project neatly radially inwards from thebound coil of wire and therefore do not interfere with rolling or otherhandling of the coil and are not so liable to tear clothing or the like.These twisted wire ends can, of course, be bent so as to lie snuglyagainst the inside of the coil if desired.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention the groove or guideway forthe wire extends somewhat spirally for a complete circumference and ahalf of the arms which, when they are closed, take roughly the form ofan oval or circle.

One particular embodiment of the invention will now bedescribed, by wayof example, asapplied to a machine for securing ties around a coil ofwire. In the following description reference is made to the accompanyingdiagrammatic drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation,

FIGURE 2 is a rear elevation,

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing in detail part of themeans provided for operating a wire tie gripper,

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating in detail thewire tie gripper, twister and cutter mechanism,

FIGURE 5 shows the initial setting-up position of the wire tie feedingmechanism,

FIGURE 6 shows the position of the wire tie feeding mechanismpreparatory to the drawing of the wire tie tightly about theconvolutions of the coil,

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 but showing the wire tie drawntightly around the convolutions of the coil,

FIGURE 8 shows the positions of the wire tie twisting and cuttermechanism when the wire tie feeding mechanism or parts are in theposition shown in FIGURE 6, and

FIGURE 9 shows the positions of the wire tie twisting and cuttermechanism when the wire tie feeding mechanism is in the position shownin FIGURE 7.

The machine comprises two arcuate arms 10 and 11 hingedly supported at12 and 13 and geared together by reduction gear wheels 14 and 15. Thegear wheel 14 is driven by an electric motor 16 for opening and closingof the arms as hereinafter described. The gear wheel 14 is geared to themotor 16 by a worm shaft 17 and worm wheel 18 fixed on a sleeve 19 towhich the gear wheel 14 is also secured. The sleeve 19 is rotatablysupported on a shaft 20 and its forward end provides the pivot 12 forthe arm 10.

The gearing 14 and 15 between the arms is such that the top arm 10 movesfaster than the bottom arm 11.

Mounted on the free end of the arm 11 is a wire tie gripper, twister andcutter mechanism which is indicated generally by the reference numeral21. This mechanism comprises a gripper anvil 22, a slidably supportedgripper 23, adapted to hold an end of the wire tie against the anvil 22,a twister wheel 24 and a cutter 25.

The gripper 23 is provided at its outer end with a roller 26 adapted tobe engaged by a cam 27 pivotally supported at 28 on the free end of theupper arm 10. A clamping chain 29 extends from an arm 30 on the cam 27,around an idler sprocket wheel 31 on the free end of the lower arm 11,and then over a driving sprocket 32 to a fixed anchorage 33. Sprocket 32is driven by a motor 34. When the chain 29 is under tension the cam 27will, through the roller 26, move the gripper 23 towards the anvil 22 soas to clamp the wire W. This chain is also adapted for clamping theconvolutions of the wire coil closely together before and duringbinding.

The twister wheel 24 has a twisting slot 36 and is rotated from a driveshaft 37 through gear wheels 38 and 39, the gear wheel 39 meshing withexternal teeth 40 on the twisting wheel. The drive shaft 37 is drivenfrom a motor 41 through gear wheels 42 and 43, a clutch 44, shaft 45,

' worm and wormwheel 46 and 47, and shaft 48. The

shaft 48 carries a bevel pinion 49 which meshes with a bevel pinion 50on the shaft 37.

The cutter 25 is pivotally supported on the upper part of a shaft 51which carries the gear wheel 39. Operation of the cutter at theappropriate times is effected by a cam 52 fixed on the upper end of theshaft 37. The cutter 25 operates in conjunction with a hardened cutterbush 53.

A groove or guideway extends somewhat spirally for approximately acomplete circumference and a ,half around the arms 10 and 11. Thisgroove has a portion 54 which starts at or adjacent the hinge 12 andextends around the upper arm 10 to the free end thereof. The groove iscontinued as indicated at 55 around the lower arm 11 and then around theupper arm 10 again as indicated at 56 to terminate at the free end ofsaid arm 10.

Wire stock, from supply roll S, FIG. 7, for making the ties is fedaround the groove 54, 55, 56 by pairs of feed rollers 57 and 58 gearedtogether and driven by the electric motor 41 through a gear wheel 59,clutch 60, the shaft 20, and a gear Wheel 61 on said shaft. The feedingrollers are mounted on the upper arm 10 for movement therewith, theconcentric drive by the shaft 20 through the hinge or pivot sleeve 12,19 of the arm permitting this.

The 'pontions 55 and 56 of the groove are open at the side face of thearms. To retain the tie wire in these portions of the groove said faceis provided with arcuate cover plates. 62 and 63. These cover plates areloosely fitted over studs 64 on the arms and are held in position byspiral springs 64a located on said studs, the arrangement being suchthat when required the plates can give to enable the tie Wire to leavethe grooves 55, 56 laterally.

To facilitate the lateral movement of the binder wire from the grooves55, 56 the groove 55 atleast in the region 55a is radiused or chamfered.This chamfer which is located just where the back pull is mosteffective, allows the tie or binder wire to leave the groove freely.Once the binder wire has started to leave the groove its continuedwithdrawal is quite automatic.

The machine above described operates as follows:

When setting up the machine t(see FIGURE the free end of the tie-wire Wfrom the coil of stock is fed into the feed wheels 57, 58 and carriedround the part 54 of the groove, its free end terminating in the regionof the free end of the upper arm 10. The arms are then opened to receivethe coil C of wire to be tied or bound, the coil moves into position andthe arms 10, 11 close around its convolutions and may be latched in thisclosed position. This latching operation may be effected by thetensioning and untensioning of the chain 29.

The feed rollers 57, 58 then operate by an appropriate amount to feedthe wire W through the grooves 55, 56 through the slot 36 of thetwisting wheel and into the gripper 22, 23.

The motor 34 is then operated to draw in the chain 29 and clamp ittightly about the coil C as shown in FIG- URE 6. Tensioning of the chain29 also operates the cam 27 to close the gripper 22, 23 onto the freeend of the binding wire.

The direction of rotation of the feed wheels 57, 58 is then reversed(e.g. by reversing the motor 41) so that the binder wire is pulledlaterally from the groove 55, 56 under considerable tension. Means maybe provided for ad usting this tension. As a result the single wire bondor tie loop is drawn tightly around the already clamped convolutions ofthe coil as shown in FIGURE 7.

The wheel 24 of the twister device then rotates and gives apredetermined number of twists to thewire tie as shown in FIGURE 9.During the first twist the cutter 25 is operated to cut the tie from thetie stock so that twisting can continue without difiiculty. Whentwisting or knotting of the ends of the tie has been completed thegripper 22, 23 is opened by release of the chain 29.

It will be noted (see FIGURES 8 and 9) that the twisting wheel 24 turnsthrough an angle of from the position shown in FIGURE 8, in which itsslot 36 is in the Start position for receiving the tie wire, to theposition shown in FIGURE 9 in which the wheel is in the position itoccupies at the end of a binding operation. In the position shown inFIGURE 8 the position of the slot 36 in the twisting wheel is such thatit prevents the binding wire leaving when tension is applied whereas assoon as the full cycle of operations has been completed and the twistingWheel turns through 180 to the feed position, the disposition of theslot is such that the binding is allowed to leave the twisting wheel.

Usually several ties will be applied to each coil of wire. This may beeffected by, for example, turning the coil through an appropriate angleWithin the arms 10, 11 and repeating the binding operation at eachposition. Alternatively the coil may be passed along a conveyor to aseries of binding mechanisms having arms 10, 11 disposed at differentangles. so as to apply bindings at different positions circumferentiallyaround the coil of wire.

The arms 10,11 may be caused to open automatically, to release a coil,by arranging that a conveyor or table carrying the coil will move it,when the binding operation has been completed, so as to engage .apivoted arm or other device which sets in operation the mechanism foropening the arms. Alternatively the application of the last binding ortie could be used to give a signal to cause the arms automatically toopen for removal of the article.

Generally all the mechanism and the operation thereof as above describedwill be caused to take place automatically in the desired sequence, e.g.through a timing mechanism or by arranging for one mechanism at anappropriate time to trigger-off the operation of the next. In somecases, however, each operation or some of the operations may becontrolled manually, e.g. by the operation of press buttons.

A complete cycle of operations can be initiated by the operation of onepush button or may be arranged to become part of a number of operationson, for example, a conveyor line.

The grooves for the wire W could be replaced by spaced pins, blocks orby tracks adapted initially to support the loop of tie wire and offwhich it can be drawn and secured around the article.

In applying the invention to a maehinefor securing a tie around a box orlike article the arms need not necessarily be arranged to open. The armsmay in this case be replaced by a loop, ring or the like into theopening of which the box or the like is introduced.

1 claim:

1. A machine for putting and securing a tie around an article comprisinga pair of opcnable and closable arms having ends which meet when thearms are closed, means gearing said arms together for movement in unisonbut so that one arm moves at a greater speed than the other, means foropening and closing said arms whereby they are opened to receive, closedto embrace and subsequently opened to release said article when the tiehas been secured thereto, means for supporting a coil of tie-wire stock,groove means in said arms positioned so as to meet when the arms areclosed and provide a spiral guideway extending around said arms whenthey are closed, feed rollers on one of said arms for feeding said wirestock around said guideway, so as to circumscribe the article when thearms are closed and for subsequently, when reversed, pulling thetie-wire out of said guideway and into a circumscribing loop tightlyabout the article, driving means for driving said feed rollers inopposite directions so as to effect said feeding of the tiewire aroundthe guideway and said pulling of the tie-wire out of the guideway,gripper means at the meeting ends of the arms for holding a free endof-said tie-wire during the pulling thereof out of the guideway andtightly around the article, said guidewaybeing open at one side of thearms so that the tie-wire leaves the guideway laterally of the arms,cover means over said guideway to retain the tie-wire therein during thefeeding of the tie-wire around the guideway, resilient means supportingsaid cover means over the guideway whereby said cover means can yield toallow the tie-wire to be pulled out of the guideway and tightly aroundthe article, cutter means at the meeting ends of the arms for severingthe article circumscribing loop of tie-wire from the wire stock andtwisting means at the meeting ends of the arms for giving a double twistto the ends of the article ciriumscribing loop to secure said endstogether after the loop has been pulled out of the guideway and drawntightly around the article by said reverse pulling of the tie-wire, saidtwisting means comprising a twisting wheel having a slot which isoperative to receive the ends to be twisted together, and means formoving said twisting wheel from a position in which its slot holds thetie to a position which allows the tie to be removed from the twistingwheel.

2. A machine for putting and securing a tie around an article,comprising a pair of openable and closable arms having ends which meetwhen the arms are closed, means gearing said arms together for movementin unison, means for opening and closing said arms whereby they areopened to receive, closed to embrace and subsequently opened to releasesaid article when the tie has been secured thereto, means for supportinga coil of tie-Wire stock, groove means in said arms positioned so as tomeet when the arms are closed and provide a spiral guideway extendingaround said arms, feed rollers for feeding said wire stock around saidguideway, so as to circumscribe the article when the arms are closed andfor subsequently, when reversed, pulling the tie-wire out of saidguideway and into a circumscribing loop tightly around the article,driving means for driving said feed rollers in opposite directions so asto effect said feeding of the tie-wire around the guideway and saidpulling of the tie-wire out of the guideway, gripping means at themeeting ends of the arms for holding a free end of said tie-wire duringthe pulling thereof out of the guideway and tightly around the article,said guideway being open at one side of the arms so that the tie-wireleaves the guideway laterally of the arms, cover means over saidguideway to retain the tie-wire therein during the feeding of thetie-wire around the guideway, resilient means supporting said covermeans over the guideway whereby said cover means can yield to allow thetie-wire to be pulled out of the guideway and tightly around thearticle, cutter means at the meeting ends of the arms for severing thearticle circumscribing loop of tie-wire from. the wire stock andtwisting means at the meeting ends of the arms for giving a twist to theends of the article circumscribing loop to secure said ends togetherafter the loop has been pulled out of the guideway and drawn tightlyaround the article by said reverse pulling of the tie-wire, saidtwisting means comprising a twisting wheel having a slot which isoperative to receive the ends to be twisted together, and means formoving said twisting wheel from the position in which its slot holds thetie to a position which allows the tie to be removed from the twistingwheel.

3. A machine for putting and securing a tie around an article,comprising a pair of openable arms, means for opening and closing saidarms whereby they are opened to receive, closed to embrace andsubsequently opened to release said article when the tie has beensecured thereto, means for supporting a coil of tie-wire stock, groovemeans extending around said arms, reversible driving means for feedingsaid wire stock around said groove means, so as to circumscribe thearticle when the arms are closed and for subsequently, when reversed,pulling the tie-wire out of said groove means and into a circumscribingloop tightly about the article, gripper means for holding a free end ofsaid tie-wire during the pulling thereof out of the groove means andtightly around the article, said groove means being open at one side ofthe arms so that the tie-wire leaves the groove means laterally of thearms, cover means over said groove means to retain the tie-wire thereinduring the feeding of the tie-wire around the groove means, resilientmeans supporting said cover means over the groove means whereby saidcover means can yield to allow the tie-wire to be pulled out of thegroove means and tightly around the article, cutter means for severingthe article circumscribing loop of tiewire from the wire stock and meansfor twisting the ends of the article circumscribing loop together afterit has been pulled out of the groove means and drawn tightly around thearticle by said reverse pulling of the tie-wire, said twisting meanscomprising a twisting wheel having a slot which is operative to receivethe ends to be twisted together, and means for moving said twistingwheel from the position in which its slot holds the tie to a positionwhich allows the tie to be removed from the twisting wheel.

4. A machine for putting and securing a tie around an article comprisinga pair of openable arms, means for opening and closing said arms wherebythey are opened to receive, closed to embrace and subsequently opened torelease said article when the tie has been secured thereto, means forsupporting a coil of tie-wire stock, groove means extending around saidarms, reversible driving means for feeding said wire stock around saidgroove means, so as to circumscribe the article when the arms are closedand for subsequently, when reversed, pulling the tie-wire out of saidgroove means and into a circumscribing loop tightly about the article,gripper means for holding a free end of said tie-wire during the pullingthereof out of the groove means tightly around the article, said groovemeans being open at one side of the arms so that the tie-wire leaves thegroove means laterally of the arms, cover means over said groove meansto retain the tie-wire therein during the feeding of the tie-wire aroundthe groove means, resilient means supporting said cover means over thegroove means whereby said cover means can yield to allow the tie-wire tobe pulled out of the groove means and tightly around the article, cuttermeans for severing the article circumscribing loop of tie-wire from thewire stock and means for twisting the ends of the article circumscribingloop together after it has been pulled out of the groove means and drawntightly around the article by said reverse pulling of the tie-wire, saidtwisting means comprising a twisting wheel having a slot which isoperative to receive the ends to be twisted together, and means formoving said twisting wheel from the position in which its slot holds thetie to a position which allows the tie to be removed from the twistingwheel, a chain, an anchorage for one end of said chain on the extremityof one arm, a guide-wheel on the other arm around which said chain isled, and driving means engaging said chain and operative to draw ittightly about the article during the application of the tie thereto.

5. A machine for putting and securing a tie around an article,comprising a pair of pivotally mounted openable and closable arms havingends which meet when the arms are closed, means for opening and closingsaid arms whereby they are opened to receive, closed to embrace andsubsequently opened to release said article when the tie has beensecured thereto, means for supporting a coil of tie wire stock, groovemeans extending around said arms, reversible driving means for feedingsaid wire stock around said groove means, so as to circumscribe thearticle when the arms are closed and for subsequently, when reversed,pulling the tie-wire out of said groove means and into a circumscribingloop tightly about the article, gripper means for holding a free end ofsaid tie-wire during the pulling thereof out of the groove means andtightly around the article, said groove means being open at one side ofthe arms so that the tie-wire leaves the groove means laterally of thearms, cover means over said groove means to retain the tie-wire thereinduring'the feeding of the tie-wire around the groove means, resilientmeans supporting said cover means over the groove means whereby saidcover means yields to allow the tie-wire to be pulled out of the groovemeans and tightly around the article, cutter means for severing thearticle circumscribing loop of tie-wire from the wire stock and twistingmeans on the end of one of the arms, for twisting the ends of thearticle circumscribing loop together after it has been pulled out of thegroove means and drawn tightly around the article by said reversepulling of the tie-wire, said twisting means comprising a twisting wheelhaving a slot which is-operative to receive the ends to be twistedtogether, and means for moving said twisting wheel from a position inwhich its slot holds the tie to a position which allows the tie to beremoved from the twisting wheel, and means for driving said twistingwheel which driving means in cludes a worm coaxial with the pivot of thearm on which the twisting device is mounted, a shaft journalled in abearing on said arm and having on one of its ends a wormwheel whichmeshes with said worm and on its other end a gearwheel which meshes witha gearwheel on a drive shaft of the twisting wheel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 5,893 5/74Myers l0025 X 2,145,339 1/39 Burns 100-47 2,358,622 9/44 Burns 100-172,674,181 4/55 Jones 10012 2,742,851 4/56 Fryer 100-12 X 2,749,837 6/56Hayford et a1 100-4 2,880,666 4/59 Rogers 100-26 2,891,365 6/59 Keckel.

2,952,203 9/60 Dorr 100--8 3,012,497 12/61 Fryer 10026 3,068,782 12/62Hasenfratz l0026 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,226,553 2/60 France.

470,13 8 1 29 Germany.

OTHER REFERENCES I WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner.

A. G. STONE, Examiner.

1. A MACHINE FOR PUTTING AND SECURING A TIE AROUND AN ARTICLE COMPRISINGA PAIR OF OPENABLE CLOSABLE ARMS HAVING ENDS WHICH MEET WHEN THE ARMSARE CLOSED, MEANS GEARING SAID ARMS TOGETHER FOR MOVEMENT IN UNISON BUTSO THAT ONE ARM MOVES AT A GREATER SPEED THAN THE OTHER, MEANS FOROPENING AND CLOSING SAID ARMS WHEREBY THEY ARE OPENED TO RECEIVE, CLOSEDTO EMBRACE AND SEQUENTIALLY OPENED TO RELEASE SAID ARTICLE WHEN THE TIEHAS BEEN SECURED THERETO, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING A COIL OF TIE-WIRE STOCK,GROOVE MEANS IN SAID ARMS POSITIONED SO AS TO MEET WHEN THE ARMS ARECLOSED AND PROVIDE A SPIRAL GUIDEWAY EXTENDING AROUND SAID ARMS WHENTHEY ARE CLOSED, FEED ROLLERS ON ONE OF SAID ARMS FOR FEEDING SAID WIRESTOCK AROUND SAID GUIDEWAY, SO AS TO CIRCUMSCRIBE THE ARTICLE WHEN THEARMS ARE CLOSED AND FOR SUBSEQUENTLY, WHEN REVERSED, PULLING THETIE-WIRE OUT OF SAID GUIDEWAY AND INTO A CIRCUMSCRIBING LOOP TIGHTLYABOUT THE ARTICLE, DRIVING MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID FEED ROLLERS INOPPOSITE DIRECTIONS SO AS TO EFFECT SAID FEEDING OF THE TIEWIRE AROUNDTHE GUIDEWAY AND SAID PULLING OF THE TIE-WIRE OUT OF THE GUIDEWAY,GRIPPER MEANS AT THE MEETING ENDS OF THE ARMS FOR HOLDING A FREE END OFSAID TIE-WIRE DURING THE PULLING THEREOF OUT OF THE GUIDEWAY AND TIGHTLYAROUND THE ARTICLE, SAID GUIDEWAY BEING OPEN AT ONE SIDE OF THE